What is the impact of the 'war on terror' on British Muslims?

The following correction was printed in the Guardian's Corrections and clarifications column, Monday December 20 2004

The Islamic political party, Hizb ut-Tahrir, has asked us to say that the views of one of its members expressed below may have been misrepresented because his comments were not specifically enough related to the questions to which they applied and may have given the impression that the organisation would turn a blind eye to violence in the UK. The party wants to make it absolutely clear that it does not advocate or engage in violence and that it seeks to change opinion through intelligent discussion and debate. The party strictly adheres to Islamic law in all aspects of its work.

British foreign policy has helped the further integration of Muslims in Britain, despite the vast majority of them being in opposition to it. Muslims have turned their anger into an opportunity to galvanise the community and make their voices heard.

"The 'war on terror' has brought Islam in all its strands, including the political, into the mainstream," said Saqib Mueen, deputy editor of the journal of the Royal United Services Institute. "It has allowed for people to participate in the political process; it has allowed for Muslims to engage in the debate and set the terms of reference."

Muslims were faced with a difficult dilemma in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the US, because speaking out led to the question "are you with the terrorists, then?", with the result that Muslims became "bogeymen" and their patriotism was questioned, according to Salma Yaqoob of the Stop the War Coalition.

The government's anti-terrorist laws, including detention without charge or trial, introduced in the wake of 9/11, had been used unfairly against the Muslim community, with an increasing number of stops and searches and arrests - which led to few convictions.

An "unhelpful" climate of fear had been created among Muslims and non-Muslims alike as a result of the new laws, it was agreed. The government's reaction to 9/11 had been a "kneejerk" one, and disproportionate when compared with that of Spain after the real terrorist attack in Madrid this year.

Fatma Dossa, a London-based pharmacist, said there was "no doubt" Muslims had been targeted by the government. Asad Rehman, a political researcher for George Galloway MP, said: "There's no justification for detention without charge and trial. The key issue is how we respond to this and educate people so that they know their rights."

Asked if there was an onus on Muslims to inform on political or religious groups intent on violence, the group felt this was a "loaded question". They agreed that like any citizen they would condemn what was wrong "whoever is doing it", but one participant, a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, who did not want to be named, said: "We as the Muslim community need to be the voice of the Muslims abroad, we have failed to do so correctly so far ... In my particular view, we have no responsibility to inform on some of the actions of our brothers here supporting what they regard as being just causes abroad."

But Rumeana Jahangir, a media worker, said: "If I found out that somebody was planning to bomb the middle of London I would go and inform because it is haram [an act forbidden by the Qur'an]." To which the Hizb ut-Tahrir member said: "I would say to hell with your civic duty." He was interrupted and told that Muslims could not justify killing people.

The rest of the group told him that radical Muslim groups such as his own and that of the extreme preacher Abu Hamza represented "negligible" numbers of Muslims and often made "irrational, illogical comments" that "played into the hands of the media".

"Every pronouncement these groups make sees an increase in attacks on our community," Mr Rehman said.

The Hizb ut-Tahrir member said his party represented a view that was part of the Muslim community. The table then stopped his input, saying: "We are getting distorted by one person."